Fixing Device Slide Member Width Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixing devices for image forming apparatuses suffer from oil leakage at the ends of the slide member, leading to oil accumulation and swelling of the pressing member, which causes wrinkles in paper and reduces the device's torque and lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A fixing device design where the slide member's width is greater than the rotation unit's width, with both end sections of the slide member positioned outside the rotation unit, preventing lubricant from reaching the ends and thus avoiding contact with the pressing member, thereby preventing swelling and wrinkles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the slide member width is increased to prevent oil leakage, then oil leakage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the width dimension of the slide member to be greater than the width of the heating roller. This dimensional parameter change ensures that the lubricant cannot reach the end sections of the slide member, thereby preventing oil leakage and swelling of the pressing member while maintaining reliable operation.
2Ease of operation
If the lubricant feed section continues to supply lubricant, then sliding resistance is reduced, but oil accumulation occurs at the inlet section
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful accumulation of lubricant at the inlet section by designing the slide member width to be greater than the heating roller width. This extraction prevents the lubricant from accumulating in the inlet section and being pushed out to the end sections, thereby eliminating oil leakage while maintaining adequate lubrication for reduced sliding resistance.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the pressing member is made of elastic material to stretch the pressurizing belt, then belt contact is improved, but the pressing member swells when exposed to oil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the slide member as an intermediary between the lubricant feed section and the pressing member. The slide member width is designed to be greater than the heating roller width, creating a barrier that prevents lubricant from reaching the pressing member. This intermediary structure maintains the elastic properties of the pressing member for good belt contact while preventing oil-induced swelling that would compromise pressure stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively prevents oil leakage and swelling of the pressing member, maintaining the desired pressure and torque, and reducing paper wrinkles, ensuring stable operation and extended device lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
a lubricant feed section feeding a lubricant to the inner surface of the pressurizing belt
Implementation Method 2
The pressing member 103, which is constituted of elastic materials such as silicone rubber, has a function to stretch the pressurizing belt 102 over the heating roller 101
Implementation Method 3
a heating roller 101, a pressurizing belt 102 in contact with the heating roller 101
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device in which a width of a slide member is larger than a width of a pressurizing belt while both ends of the slide member are positioned outside of both ends of the pressurizing belt. The above-structured slide member makes it possible to prevent lubricant on the slide member from leaking out of the ends of the slide member and coming around the inner surface of the slide member, and thereby to prevent a pressing member beneath the slide member from swelling, resulting in avoidance of wrinkle generation on recording materials.